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Cover of First Gen

First Gen

by Alejandra Campoverdi

Book Details

Publisher:Grand Central Publishing
Published:2023-09-12
Pages:276
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

About This Book

*2X NATIONAL BESTSELLER* Winner of the Martin Cruz Smith Award (CALIBA) Winner of the Dolores Huerta Award (International Latino Book Awards) 2024 Council for Opportunity in Education National Book Club Selection Longlisted for the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award for First Year Experience An unflinching memoir and "invaluable resource" (Kirkus) about navigating social mobility as a first gen Latinaโ€”offering both a riveting personal story and an examination of the unacknowledged emoti

Our Review

This powerful memoir offers an unflinching look at the complex reality of social mobility through the eyes of a first-generation Latina navigating elite spaces. Campoverdi masterfully blends personal narrative with sharp cultural analysis, creating a raw account that examines the emotional toll of upward mobility often overlooked in traditional success stories. The book serves as both a compelling personal journey and a critical examination of what it means to be the first in your family to access opportunities previously out of reach.

What makes this memoir particularly distinctive is its refusal to simplify the first-generation experience into either a pure triumph or tragedy narrative. Campoverdi gives voice to the psychological whiplash of code-switching between worlds while maintaining deep connections to her community of origin. Young adults from similar backgrounds will find validation in these pages, while those from different circumstances gain crucial insight into the hidden costs of social advancement. The result is a transformative read that redefines what true success looks like for those breaking barriers.

Themes

Biography & Autobiography

Subjects

Biography & Autobiography